A master’s degree (e.g., MHPE, MPH, MEd, or MS degree) is a prerequisite for the PhD in HPE. Learners entering the program without an MHPE or USU’s MEd-HPE should expect to complete all masters level coursework before beginning the PhD level coursework. The PhD degree is meant to serve those select students with the desire to be at the forefront of the scholarship, leadership, and education of health professions learners. The PhD degree is a research-intensive degree meant for those individuals planning to serve as independent researchers, research directors, and/or principal or associate investigators on grant-funded HPE research after graduation. It also provides additional education in all HPE competencies to include education and leadership. The dissertation requires more focused and thematic investigation (i.e., a series of related studies) with demonstration of expertise in research methods in HPE. The leadership and teaching curricula are also more challenging, requiring a higher level of mastery than the MHPE.
The PhD in HPE is targeted toward deans (associate, senior, and vice level), department chairs, department vice chairs of research and education, directors of research and teaching programs, and other leaders in HPE to further enhance their knowledge and skills beyond the core areas of the MHPE and MEd-HPE programs. Like these programs, the doctoral degree places emphasis on the practical application of core principles. Graduates are expected to serve as leaders, scholars, and educators in the DoD’s health professions programs.
The PhD in HPE is sequenced to be completed in four years on a full-time basis. Part-time learners are expected to complete the PhD in HPE in five years. The program requires 24 months of full-time study -- or 36 months of part-time study -- beyond the masters degrees. The satisfactory completion of a dissertation is required for graduation (resulting in at least four papers accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals), as are completion of a written portfolio, oral exam, and oral dissertation defense.
*Note: All three degrees in HPE can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. To be eligible for admission into any of the HPE programs, an individual must be an employee of the federal government (either civilian or uniformed) unless otherwise specified through an agreement (e.g., Memorandum of Understanding) between USU and the relevant institution.
Complete one course from each domain: Education, Leadership, and Research.